WAUKESHA — Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker delivered a paean to traditional conservatism in a presidential announcement speech Monday that was equal parts candidate introduction, vision for the future and withering criticism of the Obama administration.

Walker said he would immediately repeal the Affordable Care Act, rein in federal regulations, approve the Keystone XL pipeline as part of an "all-of-the-above" energy plan, and seek to lower taxes by spreading them out to more payers, broadening the tax base. He also said he would oppose national education standards, such as Common Core, and seek to leave those decisions to local school officials.

"We understand that true freedom and prosperity do not come from the mighty hands of the government, they come from empowering people to control their own lives and their own destinies through the dignity that is born of work. Of work, that's what we stand for," he said.

On foreign policy, Walker reminisced about the tough military stances of Ronald Reagan and said he would allow U.S. troops in Iraq to fight alongside Sunni and Kurd allies to retake land from the Islamic State. He said he also would call off any deal with Iran and impose crippling sanctions, rather than negotiate with the regime.

Walker, who became the 15th major Republican candidate with his announcement Monday (he announced his entry into the race on Twitter earlier that morning), starts the race as a natural target not only because of his previous battles, but because he is doing well in the polls.

Amid the large GOP presidential field, Walker has polled at or near the top routinely, and he has consistently led in the opening caucus state of Iowa, a state that figures to be crucial to his chances of winning the nomination.

During his speech, he criticized Obama — and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton — for allowing the Syrian regime to cross a red line and use chemical weapons on its own people, for calling the Islamic State a "JV" team and for not being supportive enough of Israel. Walker said the United States needs to do much more to stand up to Russian President Vladimir Putin and stop Chinese cyber attacks.

"Sadly today, under the Clinton — under the Obama-Clinton doctrine, America is leading from behind and that has us headed towards a disaster."

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker hold a dllar bill as speaks to supporters as he announces he is running for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination at the Waukesha County Expo Center, Monday, July 13, 2015, in Waukesha, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Morry Gash, AP

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker speaks to supporters as he announces he is running for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination at the Waukesha County Expo Center, Monday, July 13, 2015, in Waukesha, Wis.(AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Morry Gash, AP

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker acknowledge supporters with his son Alex, left, wife Tonette and other son Matt, as he announces he is running for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination at the Waukesha County Expo Center, Monday, July 13, 2015, in Waukesha, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Morry Gash, AP

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker acknowledge supporters with his son Alex, left, wife Tonette and other son Matt, as he announces he is running for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination at the Waukesha County Expo Center, Monday, July 13, 2015, in Waukesha, Wis. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Nam Y. Huh, AP

Walker, in introducing himself to the American electorate at large, sought to highlight his middle-class upbringing in Wisconsin as the son of a small-town pastor and part-time bookkeeper who flipped hamburgers in high school at McDonald's to save up for college.

"My brother and I ... didn't inherit fame and fortune from our family," he said. "What we got was a belief that if you work hard and you play by the rules, you can do and be anything."

Walker also ticked off accomplishments since he won the governor's office in 2010, including education policies that resulted in higher graduation rates and improved scores on ACT exams that he said ranked second in the country.

He attributed some of the educational gains to flexibility gained under legislation he signed in 2011 curtailing collective bargaining rights for public sector unions.

That fight against labor unions undergirds what promises to be the central theme of Walker's campaign for president: that he's a proven fighter and winner. He repeated that manta during his speech Monday, saying to voters "I will fight and win for you."

Before Walker even took the stage, organizations the Republican governor had beaten back with his fight-and-win mantra in Wisconsin were pillorying him, providing a glimpse of just how fierce the campaign trail will be for Walker.

Citizen Action of Wisconsin and Center for American Progress Action Fund attacked his "life-threatening efforts to sabotage health care reform" in a morning conference call.

A coalition of two dozen other groups staged a rally outside Walker's announcement speech to "explain how his extreme policies have hurt families, workers, students, women, immigrants, and the environment."

The battle lines are eerily familiar here in Wisconsin, where tens of thousands of Democratic protesters deluged the state Capitol in 2011 opposing Walker's push to cut back collective bargaining rights for public sector workers.

"As Scott Walker announces his Presidential run, it is important to look to Wisconsin to get a sense of how Gov. Walker's failed leadership and poor policy making has taken the state backwards," the Wisconsin AFL-CIO said in a statement.

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka put it more succinctly: "Scott Walker is a national disgrace."

Not surprisingly, that was not the consensus of Walker supporters at Monday's campaign kickoff event.

"I appreciate his conservatism, and the Reagan kind of style he has," said Wieckert, a former state lawmaker who served with Walker when he was a member of the State Assembly.

Sue Tschanz, a resident of Delafield and Republican Party volunteer thought he came off as authentic.

"I thought it was inspiring. I thought it was fresh. from the heart, and I thought it was exactly what we need in this country," she said. "He's done a lot for Wisconsin, and I feel he really is the right man for the job for our country."